The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-07-28
Restricting Immigration.

Mr.. Powderly's recent talks on the
subject of restricted immigration have
evoked much comment, particularly
from leading wOrkingmeu. While
many endorse his view that bona tide
protection to American labor is not to
be secured by tarifing the foreign
product out, and letting the foreign
labor in without any limitation what
ever; some contend that it is wrong
view, unnecessary, unwise and not at
all calculated to prove effectual in &C
complishing the object sought.
The directors are chiefly of two
kinds: First, those who have tied to
the Henry George theory as to the own
ership of land second, those who talk
glibly in a lofty, sentimental way of
what they call 1.-The genius of our in
stitutions,' which, they say, denies a
country that has been made great by
immigration, the moral right to stop
immigration.
The Georgeites contend that their
theory will do away with monopoly in
land, and that, with that accomplished,
there is room in this country and the
means of support for population of
thousand million or more. But their
theory would not do away with land
monopoly if it were put into effect, and
it cannot be put into effect, for the
plain reason that more than half our
entire population have strong direct
or indirect personal interest in the
maintenance Of the principle of indi-
vidual ownership in land. Besides
which, land monopoly is but one of
many forms of monopoly and other
wrongs by which wealth is centralized,
and the burdens of the poor multiplied.
Absolute communism would not correct
the evil, supposing it to be possible,
until immigration is checked and the
gross industrial product is increased, if
the census figures are correct, Accord
ing to the census of 1850, the gross
annual product amounted to but 40
cents per day. for each individual, or
calculating one wage Garner for every
three inhabitants, to S1.20 per day for
each wage Garner, so that every man
whose earnings in that year exceeded
Sl.20 per day, got more than would
have been his share, had the whole pro-
duct been bulked and divided among
the wage earners pro rata.
Those who pirate of the ''genius of
our Institutions being in the direction
Of continuing to make this country "a
home for the oppressed of all nations"
ask, what right has Mr.. Powderly, the
son of an emigrant, to talk about shut
ting out other emigrants? The answer
is, the right that attaches to every man
to protect himself by any fair means
at his call. The right he would have
of shutting fifth person out of boat
that was only capable of holding four.
If there are more people now here than
can be continuously supplied with
work at remuneratlve pay, it is our
undoubted right and tounden duty to
prevent more coming. The question
is not one of right. As TO that there
can be no possible dispute. 1t is SIM
ply one of policy or of the truth or
falsity of the premises from which it |
is argued. The tariff laws of the |
country assert in their inception and |
purpose that We need protection |
against the competition of foreign
labor. That is all Mr.. Powderly as
serts, the only difference being that he
offers by far the most sensible method
the only practical method, in fact, of |
providing that protection. |